NH House Testimony

HB1825

House · 2026 sessionRepublicanKilled in House

Restructuring legal practice regulation

AI

Restructures the regulation of legal practice in New Hampshire by establishing an independent legal licensing board and appropriating funds for its operation.

relative to the regulation of the practice of law, establishing an independent legal licensing board, and making an appropriation therefor.

Occupational RegulationAgency AppropriationsCourts and Procedure

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 19, 2026
  1. Introduced
  2. House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Division of testimony

15 submissions
Support 1Oppose 14Neutral 0
Susan HaleyOpposeLitchfield, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

It’s not broken. There are more important things in NH than trying to rig who can practice law, aka can be followers of the GOP and not leaders of democracy and upholding our constitution.

Hannah MeiselmanOpposeManchester, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

I oppose HB1825 because removing regulation of the legal profession from the judiciary risks politicization and fragmentation of professional standards that protect both clients and the integrity of the legal system.

Mary Hakken-PhillipsOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Mr. Chair & Members of the Committee: As a member of the NH Bar Association, I oppose HB1825 as a proposed. This bill attempts to upend hundreds of years of legal practice in NH by deregulating the profession of law, creating a “freedom to practice law,” and stating anyone can get a license to be a lawyer if they pass the Multi-State Professional Examination without having to go to law school (what could go wrong?!). The bill creates a duplicate and parallel track for attorney licensing and discipline, at great expense to the Court system that is already under budgetary distress without an adequate appropriation to fund this new policy. This bill is simply a mess. A warning: Would you agree to a life changing surgery by a surgeon who didn’t go to medical school? No, and common sense tells us that you shouldn’t hire someone who didn’t go to law school to handle your life changing legal affairs - your liberty could be at stake! Let’s let the professionals remain professionals, and send this idea, based in anarchy, to the consent calendar as ITL. Thank you. Rep, Mary Hakken-Phillips

Sarah VishtonOpposeLaconia, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

I oppose this bill. Seriously do we want people that don't know the law to be lawyers???? Why would this make sense! Do better NH

Martha Jane RichOpposeEnfield, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

I strongly oppose this attack on the the rule of law and the professional practice of attorneys in our state. I would never engage a lawyer who had not completed a degree-granting program in legal studies, anymore than I would allow a surgeon without proper medical training to operate on me. This bill would elevate unqualified and possibly even fraudulent practice in our state. Please don't make things harder for our courts and people who need legal representation in Hew Hampshire.

CARA CABRALOpposeMADBURY, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Rosemary EmrichOpposeHooksett, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Heather SheridanOpposeClaremont, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Stephanie MooreOpposeHUDSON, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Derek LickOpposeConcord, NHfor NH Bar AssociationFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Suzanna DerynioskiOpposeLaconia, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

David JenkinsOpposeJaffrey, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Corinne GordonOpposeSalem, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

charles DePuyOpposeLebanon, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.

Randall CollierSupportsurry, NHfor MyselfFeb 4, 2026

Position recorded without written comment.